Automobile buffer construction



Nov. 29, 1927.`

G. A. LYON AUTOMOBILE BUFFER CONSTRUCTION Original FledApnil 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l mig/0.? Il INVENTO% Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,635

G. A. LYoN AUTOMOBILE BUFFER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 14. 1925 2 Sheets-Shen 2 "@mmmu l *n-Imm 96 /07 /06 l I N VEN TOR Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

U NITE@ Si f M fl'. i,

" Geenen Amann? Lonor antiiniinnsrfivnw Jnnsnv. j

AirroivioniLE-Borrnn oonsfriinoimion.

Application inea apii1"1i,i92e,sefia1 iroeeacie. l Renewed' april 22 1927.

This invention relates toV automobile buffers or bumpers in VWhich one or more ofthe buifer front elements may adventageously.befl

formed of `relatively Widethin strip such i as spring steel one and tliifee-qiiarters to tivo and a half inches Wide and' one-quarter to three-eighths of an inch thick more or less, which may be diagonally folded to form a transversely extendingconnecter portion and several integrally `connected` transversely separa/ted strip membersextending in the same or opposite directions therefrom. Such a but-ler element may be advantageously used at the lateral ends of the buffer adjacentthe automobile Wheels and in such cases the transverse ionne'ctor portion may have its diagonali folds arranged at substantially right angles to each other so that two traiisversely separated strips extend horizontally inward 'from this connector portion to forin a double height or double strip buffer element which may extend inward toer past the center of the buffer, if desired, and be adfill justably or otherwise joined iny overlapping ifeenforcing position with similar horizontal strip members which are joined by atransverse diagonally foldedeonnectoi" portion at' the other side'or end `of the buiten` Such a buffer front may be supported in any desired way and a spiingjsteel strip supporting attaching member may vbe arranged todos:y

connected `to the two `frame'ends and have forwardly extending connecting portions se?V curedf to` these buffer front strip `members on each` side of the center of the butler front and Within a foot or so ofthe buffer ends so that these transverse connector portions at `the louder ends are notsubjected toezicessive strains which are largely transferred from each of the front vstrips'directly to the connected buffer supporting member which is considerably Wider than the vertical separation betweeny the front strips. Under these conditions the diagonally folded transverse connector portions Whi'chinay be provided at one or both ends of the buffer front may be folded rather rclosely together at` their diagonally bent portions and,i`fdesired, this diagonal connector portion may `be folded substantially parallel to theadjacent por-l tions ofthe vertically separated buffer front strips Wl'ii'ch may ofcourse be thus connected i`n vertically aligned position and at any de-r sired' distance apartsu'ch as twoF-to six inches more or less 'between their adjacent edges.

Fliese double strip buffer" elementsmay be* material of' less that the reetangularly arranged folded'` edges readilyiinished since the substantially par# allel or horizontally extending front strip members may be ground, polished and nickel plated, if "desired, While the rearwardly eX- teiiding transverse connector portion maybe finished in baked enamel or other suitable prominent appearance so mobile bulfers with advantage and butler Vsupporting members may be formed in this Way and connected in any suitable Way to the car frame and ofcourse by arranging `this 'substantially transverse angularly folded connector portion so that the transversely separated strips project therefrom in opposite directions, the diagonal folds-at the ends "of the connector portion may be more vor less parallel, this constructionbeing useful in providing verticallyseparatedy portions of' the 'buffer `front which' may serve as impact receiving members, if desired.y Buffer fronts may be lmade up of tivo adjust/ably connected elements having transversely :extending Vend connector portions joined by these .diagonal-` folds with the transverselyl separated buffer front strips or, ifdesired, a single strip may have such diagonally folded transversecon- 'nector portions at both ends andinayhave the strip endswelded or otherwise securedtogether so .as lto form, if desired, an over lapping reenforcingportion on the upper or lower front strip` adjacent the buffer center between the clamping lconnecting devices which may be used .to connecty these front `strips to the cooperating: supporting inembers used; Also, if desired, aunitaiy double height` buffer front may be made up in this Way so as to besoinewhat shorter thanthe `vvidth ofthe buffer laterally-across they ve,y

hicle, andthis double strip front member may be connected `in. any `suitableuvvay to asingleheiglit strip buffer front oftliel'iyon* type construction, forlinstance, so as toform a central `iiiipaetwreceiving portionl of in ico creased vertical Widthinsome cases. Vtliile of course is sometimes desiiable to havethe j buffer front stripssiibstantially aligned` with leach other transversely adjacent the transversely extending diagonally folded coiinecAv tor portion integrally 'oining them, yet for some kpurposes'this fol ed connection may be arranged so that the adjacent portions of the -strip membersl are arranged at an angle to each other so' that instead of being vertically or transversely aligned throughout they may be either convexly or concavely curved in cross section or each oppositely inclined and arranged at an angle of ten to twenty degrees'fmore or less from they vertical line arallel to the transverse connector portion Vso' asto form a generally convex or concave arrangement of the strips, which gives them r additional stiffness and strength where desired.

In the accompanying drawing showing ina somewhat Vdiagrammatic way various illustrative embodiments of this invention Fig. 1 is a front-view of an illustrative v,butter Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, and Fig. 3 isa transverse section taken substantially through the line 3f-3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are front views showing -other illustrative constructions i 1 Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing .still Ianother form Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show different forms of jdouble strip elements connected by such.

diagonally oldedend connector portions Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing still another form of buffer Fig.y 12 is a side view showing a buffer i element andmounting k.as

Fig. 13 is a. perspective view thereof- Fig. 14 is a top .vlew showing still another form of bufenamil nection. i' c L -In the illustrative buffer shown inV Figs.

Fig-15 is ay frontdetailiview ofthe conl l'to 3 the buffer front may be formed of two by a transversely lextending diagonally folded connector portion 10 which has itsl larly arranged.

transverse connection 18 may, asshown in elements ofrelatively wide thin spring steel strip. yOne of these elements may comprise the vertically or. transversely separated front strips land 3, connected at the butter end folded edges 7 and 9 substantially rectangu- This' diagonally folded Fig. 2, have its outer end 8 at the end of j the buffer which may of course project into ,protective position adjacent the automobile wheels and the rearwardly extending conneetor portion 10 may project further awayv -from the front strips at its inner edge as f shown in Fig. lgwhich is of course largely concealed vfromview when the buffer is 11 mounted Von, the. car.

"height buffer front velement may comprise the vertically separated frontn strip mein- A similar double bers,'2, 4 having, a similar diagonally folded transversely. ork vertically extending con- Ynector portion 10 on the opposite end of the buiier and these vertically separated front strip members may bel arranged insubstantial vertical alignment with each other and maybe long enough to ,overlap throughout a considerable distance adjacent the buffer frontV between the ends 5, 6 ol the correspondingivertieally separated front strips,

"as shown in Fig. 1, so as to torni overlapping mutuallyl reenforcing impact receiving members which may be connected and supported from the vehicle in any suitable way. As shown in Fig. 2, a supporting attaching member may be formed ot spring steel strip having a brace bar attaching portion 21 extending across the frame ends 24 to which it maybe clampedor connected in any suitable way.' Forwardly extending portions such asy 20, 22 may be formed in this strip which may have the bends120,

A123 where greater resilient yield is desired,

while the inturned connecting portions 19, 23 which may support and, if desired, contact with both the upper and lower sets of butter yfront strips, to which they may be secured by any suitable connecting or clamping devices. For this purpose the recessed clamps 11 may be employed. which may have the projecting ends 12, 13 extending more or less around these 'front strips, while a clamping bolt 17 threaded into the clamp member may securely hold the connecting portion such as 19 of the supporting member thereto as well as clamping the front strips 1, 2 and 3, 4 together in laterally adjusted position vso as to Vmake the buffer of the lateral length desired; a lock washer lsuch as 15 may advantageously be providefl beneath the bolt 17 to prevent looseningo't the parts. i AAs shown in Fig. 3, the supporting member'may be formed ot steel strip having at each end a quarter turned curved edge 14 so as to have a relatively large area of contact with the front strips while on the rear portions 20.y 2l and 22, these curved edges are visible from the front so as to give a more desirable and finished appearance. Ot course the buffer front strips may be given any desired forni and may either extend substantially straight across the buil'- er front as shown in Fig. 2, with rearwardly curving end portionsy or, if desired, the butter front may be forwardly,arched or curved in some cases and it is of course understood that these strip members may be formed of suitable spring steel stock and may be hardened and tempered to gire greater strength and resilient cushioning action under `collision conditions.

Fig. 4 shows another arrangement in which the buffer front may be formed of a single strip of spring steel having diagonally folded transversely extending integral connector portions at both ends of the buffer front so as to support the transversely or vertically separated front strips at the desired distance apart at each endet thebulll f inattesa er. This front stripmaythiis betorrned` with the vinte .ral "transversely ,extendingl diagonally ffol edv connector portions. 10 at or adjacent eachend of the buffer and1 pref-f the supporting member or device 21 of, any'y `suitable character whichlpreferably haslthe front' "connecting 4portions; 19 somewhat `Wider than thev separationy between the co operating parts of the front strips. 25, 26;

Fig; 5l shows a binder .fro-ntof this general' type formed. of two similar elements in aratedfront strip members which the frontstri-psare oppositely bent or' arched adjacent k,the center `of the batteriroint so as-to form .astill wider impact re ceiving member this point. Each ot these batter `front elements may' have vertioal'lyextending diagonally or angiilarly folded connector portionsl() which may be located at each end of the'bu-l'er, 'ii' desired, and preferably arranged with their diagonally foldededges 7, 9 at substantiallyright angles to each other, whiclr'gives a desirable appearance tothebiiii'er endsA4 u Que or these butter front elements `may comprise thever-` tically separated frontstrpsi, `con-` 4neet-ed by this type of diagonally folded in-M tegral transverse connector `portion I() and one of these front strip members such asBSi may be continued inward in "the forni oi' an 3,6 overlapping the shorter end itl oi' the other buffer front elen1ent-` land element mayhave its vertically sepjoined at the biitl'er end bya `similar angularly folded connector portion l0 and jthe lower connected l`front strip 38 `11i-ay be ei;- tended inward, if.,L desired, in the form of a downwardly arched or bentportion 32h90# ing its end 39 more or less voverlapping` the end 35 of the short strip` of the other butter front element. A supportingmember such as 2l of any suitable construction may vhave its connecting portions 19 clamped or bolted to `these front elements V:in-any desired way 'and the clamping `devices 30 may extend 4more or less around these'front rigidly connect thorn to the 'connecting portions such as i9 of the supporting rnernber which may be, if desired, of the type shown in Fig. 2.

upper and lower lsets-oit 'front `strips vare sr1pto have a relatively shorter tun-e j* for this reason.

strips and In thewtypes of bader iront ele-j` ments shown in Figs. 1,4 and "5`,-both the ported bythe connected :hniier "supporting `memberv between thefbnifer center and ends :and where this: yconnection `1s within ay `foot or twio, of theibmer endsthestiiness. ofthe front strips `and connections with the vbriller supporting member the `collision p strains which have f to be 1 transmitted from one vertically separated front strip, `to, the othertphrough the. vertically extending diag# onally folded .connector portions .adjacent angular or da,f izinial `folded" thus, ii"- desiredfbe bent more sharply so as -rachus oi curva;

n Another form oii bufferisfshownin,Fig; 6 as comprising oppositely arched` or benty cen- "ter portions 41, 461 which yareiintegral withthe outwardlyl j portions 42, 47. VEach ot these ..elements,

extending `impact .receiving which kmay be inade of spring` steel strip, may :toi-ined adjiacent'the? bnl-'ier end with a diagonally fol ded vertically`extending` con? n-ectofr :portion l() joinin-githe front Vstrip 42 to `the vertically displacedfront strip,` or i1npact receiving member 42T,J while the'iront strip 47 is; similarly joinedtoV its lowerjiiront `strip 48 which may curve `backward to `forni an attaching member 49. This may Whe clamped or `bolted to the `automobile frame in any sui-table way so, as to support the `buffer in connection with the similar attaching` nie-mehr 44'wh1ch maybe integral Awith the other stripclement. These billiger lirontfeleinentsmay havetheirothier ends 45, bover lapping the longernstrip'oi? the opposing buffer yelement and gadjustably clamped thereto by any suitableconnecting devices' -saclras1whichholdthem inadjiusted posiupwardly arched or bentportion 3l haring `its end \ion\so:that" they mayA Vhaveseveral inches lateral fadjiistm'entin 9 their width across the automobile liront, if rdesifred, ywhich .is yalso i l1 `T shows `another*form of biili'er in `which the iront strips 52,759-,a-rearranged in `buffer ,liront y velements which spring steel strip, if desired, may hajvrefthe forwardly arched impact receiving member 52, 54 joined to the-` vertically displaced lower front strip :strains under collision conditions and their j port-ions may l tical'ly extending connectorportion l() which inay bearrangedibehind these lon-iter iront strips. The lower 1Airont strip may be in `substantialyer-tical `alignment y'ith ythe adp jacent portion 54 of the upperstrip and n'iay be somewhat sharply curved back at s0 as to forni the attaching arniorlneinber57 to `be clampedtot'he vehicle frame. `The other `front strip59inay have itsonter portion61 similarly connected to the lower ver-Y :ticallyy aligned portion 62 of this buffer frontelement bythe diagonally folded verl:tically :extending connector portion 16. Thlslower stripl 62.1naybe bent at 63 and A rearwardly extended to form they attaching ffjmemberhdzforz connection `with the car .rame. In this type of construction as in ythe Fig; 6 'form I come into contact the upper and lower front strips are vertically separated so as not to under collision` conditions and thus agreat degree of'resilient cushioning be, more gradually along the angular, i than is necessary where 'the collision strainsA 2are not carried to such a large extent through action may 'bei secured. For this reason the angularly folded end connector portions V10 are subjected to considerable 'strains under such collision conditions andv should edges 7, 95of. the folds thesediagonallyfolded connector ,portions from onevertically separated front strip to another. 4

Of course this Atype ofintegral diagonally folded .connection betweenbuifer strip elements may be used to support transversely separated portions ofV the strip at any dei sired distance apart. If desired, a considerhorizontally Y inches wide a simple and efectiveconnection ably ,wider transverse or vertical separation of the adjacent portionsof the strip may be `secured as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 where the extending strips 65, 66 connected through the diagonally folded vertically extending portion67 ymay be separated twice the Width of these buffer strips, if desired, sothat with spring steel strips two to three can thus be secured holding the transversely separated strips four to eight inches apart if this extent'of separation is desirablefor any purpose.y Fig. 9 shows a rear view of this diagonally 'folded integral connection Yand as seen, thediagonal 'folds may be of f considerable radius of curvature so that con'- tions where siderable' collisionzstrains f may be transmittedthrough these diagonally folded connecnecessary without breaking or finjury; In finishing these strip elements it .is usually desirable to-grind and polish the laterally separated strips on their front faces f `covering thefaces of these strip members 65,

the buffer;

c element may other less striking `66 shown in Fig. k8 and these faces may be .nickel plated with advantage.

This saine polished nickel platedliinish may advantageouslv in many cases extend around the digonal lfolds or bent edges 7 9 and include the rear face of the-transversely` extending connector portions67 yas shownin Fig. 9. vThis gives a desirable and striking appearance to the buffer element, .especially where this transverse connection is used at the ends of and the other faces of the strip be finished in baked enamel or nish to give appropriate contrast. Such diagonal folds` may be Y rectagularly arranged .edges forced curved or .bent aroundy `these bends used on each side of the center of the buffer, l -ln this case the attaching formed in any desired wayv in the buffer strips which are preferably bentwhilefhot around suitable forms inbending machines or die forged by suitable'deviees. yFor example, the strip `may be heated. throughout to good high ben ing heatfand then a straight heated portion of the strip maybe diagonally arranged ,openforced through a a die having'v'rounded ing in a lower'die by the strip which may then be .forced togetherwith this upper die into or through-a transverse bending or forming aperturein the lower die to complete the diagonal folds in the strip.

otherwise bent and formed and then in Lmany ycases the heated spring steel-strip can be oil quenchedV and then drawn at the desired heat for Giving itlthe temper desired. kIn some cases, however, a limited strip may be heated toI bending heat and then bent to forni the diagonal folds as above described or in any other suitableway,

the strip element being subsequently bentvv and heat treated and tempered to the desired-t extent. Fig. l0 shows a' more closely spaced vertically separated buffer element in which the upper and lower strip members, 68, 69, which may be vertically aligned wlth each other, if desired, may be spaced apart no more than an inch or so by the diagonally folded transversely extending connector portion 70 of this integral strip which may have its rectangularly' arranged diagonal folds7 A and 9 formed in av generally similar way,-1f'

desired.y

As shown in Fig. 11, the'interinedi ate bent or spiral portions ofthe buffer front may be in the forni of diagonally arranged spirals which may be flattened, if desired, so'as to give'relatively fiat'front and rear surfaces and also minimize the'horizontalI extent of of which one or more may be of spring strip integral with the bent portion 72 and end loop '1, if desired, so as to support the adjacent impact receiving portion 74 of the buffer front` ,This may merge into the diagonally arranged spiral portions 7 5, 76 and 77 whichmay, if desired, be iiattened considerably so long as the diagonal folds or bands 75', 7 7 are not made too sharp for strength.

their inner radius oreurvature should usually not be less than about one inch or one inch and a half, depending of course, on the thickness of the strip and stock used. In this way increased resilience may be given to the connected central contact portion 78 of the buffer front which may be yieldingly sulpported in raised vertically aligned or in a vanced position desired, with respect to the other or outer impact receiving portions down on.

The hot'strip may ofcourse bey portion ofth'e member 71 may be for which reason used for this purpose adjacent the "ends 79,

to support buier'f-ront strips orlrneinbersor rated position by a vertically extending of the buii'er. As indicated, therother buffer! strip may have the attachinginember Salland. connected bent endend loop portions 82,83 so as to support the outer frortt` portionl about in line with the 4cor-rrespending por-tion 74 adjacent the other end of *the buffer. Similar diagonally folded or spira-l portions 85, 86, 87 may also be formed infthis strip to connect the portions 8a and 88 which may thus be located in similarlyraised advanced, position, so as to be connected in any :suitable way with the cooperating front strip 7 8.

The enclosing clamps or clips 80, 90 maybe separate buffer wings maybe formed this way which are desirablelfor some pur; oses.- Figs. 12 and 113 show a different type o con# struction in which two vertical-lyseparatoril spring steel strips or members r104i, 106 yare joined and rigidly held in vertically 'sepav`` diagonally 4vfolded connector portion 105 of the strip which may be located fon the rear face of the saine. This strip -in-ay be bent around into the desired curved :form and the rearwardly extending portions 103, 107 lof' these strip members maybe lboltedor lcon# nected to supportingfdevices Aof any desired type so as to connect them to the antonio-` bile. VAngulfarly arranged attaching brackets may be bol-ted on one or bothsides of these attaching strips and mayberbolted 'or con nected to the automobile frame members in any suitable way as by Athe `illebolt *97 having the nuts 98, 101 screwed downfabovetli'e perforated lugs 96, 102 on these two attaching brackets, whichlrnay thus be `bolted to the automobile frame Ineinberf91- adjacent theframe end 93, towhich thespring 192 is coi'inectedV The'attaching bracket 9d inay have the angularly arranged portion 95 in engagement with the frame member and, ifV desired, another attaching bracket 99 mayy have the angular portion engaging the frame member and bolts 108 may extend through these bracketsand thronghlioles or adjusting slots such as 1-09 in'theattaching` strips 103, 107, so as to securely'liofld-the attachingfstrips and thefcoiinected wings or buffer meinbersfin desiredposition. i f i As shown `in `Figs. 14 and 1/5,'?the buffer curely Vnection vof .good appearance,

-members of various types,

i where the yfold 'occurs frontmaybe formed of one or morestrips of spring steel and may have the sirpporting attaching members bolted or connected tothe transversely 'extending diagonally* folded `connector portions of the strips. ln this 1 `case `single steel strip may forinitlie buffer `front andinay have its vertically :separated impact receiving portions 110 and 1/129se-f*A connected and spaced apart "at the A desired ing which may be integral with the adjacent portions of the strip. The strip may/in .distance by the transverselyA extend forni' before being diagonally. folded or pref` erably the folds may be made adjacent one 4 `end of the strip and then thesetrans'versely diagonally folded connector pzortionsfll .i

soiiie cases be welded; together into hoopwf extending folded portions may be welded to-v getlier or otherwise connected in .a secure :and rigid way so vas to properly s upportitlie adjacent integral par-ts of the strip'rmeinbers.

portions adjacent the buffer `'endsand as member 11'6 4inayliave the forwardly and j outwardly curvedportions merging ,into ther outer connecting' portions 118,.,114fwhicli may -bejb'olted back 'of or preferablyalieadl `of and inside the transverse oonnectorwpon It is Vsome times `desirable tovbolt orr .l connect` the butler-i attaching supporting .members direct-ly to these transversetol'ded j .901 .shown "in llig.` 14, the supporting attaching tions 118 of the buifer front as by ithefbolts` 112 and `nuts 117, which give a strong con-V especially when the bolts are iformed with rounded fiat heads `'asiiidic'ated and are painted or finissliedfso as to be oflless conspicuous appearance than the adjacent front strips.A These transverse `diagonally folded` connector portions :se-

cure'lyv'connecting wide thin buffer strip obviate the .necessity ofedgewise bending the strips or ofV preliminarilyvcutting or narrowing the saine and thus `not only cheapen the inanuiiacturr ,ingwoperationa butalso Igive decidedly better San'd stronger connections between `these j I strip members. lInwisome cases,however,` it may be desirable to preliminarily.V form a gradualV or long radius edge'wise bend `in a wide 'thin fstripjrelement .so that two relatively straight' widelyl separated parallel divergfing :strips are joined by an edgewise bent for curved junction portion. Then o lsuch `edge-` wise bent or otherwise `formed strip elements may be folded diagonali 'at a fsu-bstantialangle to the strip at thepoint and by forming two suoli diagonal "or angular folds two `wide y across the strip or 4 types of vtransverselyseparatedy spring steel strip 'members may be `securely united so? v125 asito be substantially parallel adjacent the folded connection and closely spacedtrans-l versely at thedesired relatively short dis-- tance yapart and so las to be Vin transverse alignment, if desired; and-thus be desirable fforms, proportions,

'section and comprising for use as buifer front Vor other elements in thev saine general way described. t

Thisinvention has been described inconnectionk with a number of embodiments,

sizes, parts, arrangements, materials, methods -of construction, connection' and use,-to the details of which disclosure thefinvention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new f 10 and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: Y j

1.: The automobile buffer front formed of spring-steel strip of relatively wide iiat cross adjustable front elements each consisting of two" vertically displaced substantially vertically aligned impact receiving front ypoi'- tions `and integral end connections between isaid vertically displaced front portionsand each,comprising a rearwardly ydisplaced transversely extending connector portion integral withthe adjacent front portions and having diagonal folds joining said connector fportion .thereto and forming substantially rectangulai'lyk arranged folded edges at the ends of the buffer front, and laterally extending supporting attaching elements adapted to be connected to the automobile frame. and

@connectedr toxboth sets of said overlapping front portions on each side of the center of the buffer front.

2....Theautomobile buffer front formed of spring steel strip of relatively wide fiat cross sectionfand comprising a pairfof 'laterally adjustable front elements each consisting of f two vertically displaced impact receiving front portions and integral end connections between said vertically. displaced front por- 40 tions and each comprising a rearwardly displaced transversely extending connector portion integral with the :adjacent front portions and having diagonal foldsjoining said connector portion thereto at'thev ends of the e'bu'ffer front, Vand laterally extending supporting attaching elements-,adapted to be connected to both sets of said1 overlapping front portions on each side of the center of f the buifer front.

u 3. The. automobile buffer front formed of spring steel stripof relatively Wide'flatcross section and comprising-a Ypairof laterally adjustable frontelernents each consisting of two vertically displaced impact `receiving 55 front portions and integral end connections between said vertically displaced front portions andeach comprising a transversely extending connector, portion integral with the adjacent kfront portions and having diagonal 'folds joining said connector-portion thereto at the ends of the buffer-front, and laterally extending supporting attaching elements adapted 4 to beconnected to both sets of said overlapping front portions on eachside of v thecenterof thebuffer front, saidl front pora pair of laterally tions'.V being'bent verticallyv apart adjacent the center of the buffer front.

4. The buii'er front formed of spring steel strip of vertically wide thin cross sect-ion and comprising a pair of elements each consisting of a plurality of vertically displaced substan-f tially: vertically aligned impact receiving front portions and integral end connections between said verticallydisplaced front portions and each comprising a rearwardly dise placed transversely extending connector portion integral with the adjacent front portions and having diagonal folds vjoining said connector portion thereto adjacent the ends of tlie'buii'er, front, and supporting attaching elements connected to both sets of said front port-ions on each side ofthe center of the buffer front to hold said front portions in.

overlapping mutually reenforcing position adjacent the center of the buffer front.

5. The automobile buffer front comprising two similar buffer front elements, each havmg vertically separated steel strip impact receiving portions ends of the buffer in substantial vertical Aalignment by integral transversely extending diagonally folded connector portions, spring steel strip supporting attaching memclamping devices adjustably connecting said front elements together and to said support# ing attaching. members.

connected adjacent Jthe bers cooperating with said buffer frontand lmi 1 6.v The automobile bilder front comprising' l two bilder front elements, `each having vertically separated steel strip impactV receiving portions connected adjacent the ends ofthe buffer by integral transversely extending. diagonally folded connector portions, steel) strip supporting attaching members cooperating kwith said butter front and clamping devices connecting said front elements to members,

Agether and to said supporting attachingA 7. The automobile* buiier front comprising two vertically separated thin vertically wide steel strip front portions connected adjacent nector portions, a s teel strip supporting device cooperating with said bufer fronty and detachable clamping devices connecting saidy front portions to said supporting device.

l their ends by integral diagonally folded conj 8. The automobile buffer front comprising*` two vertically separated vertically wi ends by integral connector portions folded obliquely l e steely strip front portions connected adjacent their across the strip, a supporting de-i vice cooperating with saidbuter front and.

ien

devices connecting said, front portions to said supporting device.

9. The buffer front comprising two buffer Y' front elements,'each having vertically separated thinjsteel lstrip impact' receiving por-l tions connected adjacent` their ends in sub f stantial vertical alignment by. integral trans.

versely extending angularlyA folded connector portions having folded edges arranged sub stantially at right angles to each other at the buffer ends, steel strip supporting members cooperating With said buffer front and clamping devices connecting said front elements together and to said supporting attaching members.

l0. Thev automobile buffer front `element formed of Wide ilat spring steel strip and` comprisingV a plurality ofadjacent vertically displaced vertically aligned strip kmembers joined by an integral diagonally folded transversely extending connector portion eX` tending rearward from the adjacent closely spaced portions of said strip members, and a cooperating supporting member having a connector portion of steel strip considerably placed Wider than thedistance between the cooperating vportions of said vertically displaced strip members and secured tothe rear faces thereof. 1 i Y ll.` The automobile buffer front element formed of Wide spring steel strip and com prising a plurality of adjacent vertically disvertically aligned strip members joined by an integral diagonally Y folded transversely extending connector portion,

and a cooperating supporting member having a connector portion considerably Wider than the `distance between the cooperatingk strip j portions of said vertically displaced members and secured to the rear thereof. GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

faces 

